Bottled drink machine



Feb. 6, 1962 c. 1.. BARNHART BOTTLED DRINK MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1960 FIG. 2.

CARL TON L. BARNHART A TTORNE Y Feb. 6, 1962 c. BARNHART 3,019,942

BOTTLED DRINK MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5s 55 A 55 T-41 53 42 4a la 54 as M 7 FIG. 5. F l6. l0.

CARLTON L. BARNHART INVENTOR.

A T TORNE Y 3,019,942 BOTTLE!) DRINK MACHINE Cariton lL. Barnhart, 2928 W. Lancaster, Fort Worth, Tex. Fiied Feb. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 59,510 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 221-425) 3,919,942 Patented Feb. 6, I962 proved locking mechanism capable of retaining all other exposed bottles when one bottle is withdrawn.

This invention relates to multiple choice type vending machines and has reference to a locking mechanism which prevents the withdrawal of more than one article of merchandise after access to a plurality of articles has been gained by coin deposit or other means.

In terms of service and customer accommodation, vending machines of the multiple choice type present obvious advantages over those machines capable of dispensing only a single product. At a business establishment one machine of the former type serves the function of several of the latter. In the sale of carbonated beverages, for instance, the divergent tastes and preferences of consumers require that a variety of flavors and proprietary brands be made available for sale. Since all the beverages require refrigeration it is apparent that the use of a separate vending machine for each variety entails a duplication of cooling facilities as well as cabinets and coin receiving and sensing mechanisms. Several types of multiple choice vending machines have been made and used heretofore to dispense bottled carbonated beverages. In one type, bottles are placed upright in a box with the top of each protruding between members of a constraining grill; an access route is provided whereby the bottles may be guided and singly admitted to a coin actuated withdrawal chamber. This type of machine involves an inconvenience in manipulation of the bottles and invites pi-lfering with a bottle opener and a drinking straw. Rotatably mounted bottle carrying magazines and other complex mechanisms have been used to lessen the inconvenience of manipulation and, where such machines carry bottles in a horizontal position, reduce the temptation of theft. The so called ramp type machine has been, potentially, a simpler solution to these problems. In this type of machine, beverages of different flavors are placed on parallel ramps and the lowest bottle on each ramp is positioned opposite an elongate door. After access to all bottles has beengained by coin deposit, a mechanism locks all other bottles in place after any one has been partially withdrawn. My copending application Serial No. 720,695, filed March ll, 1958, now Patent No. 2,986,- 304, embodies an example of such mechanism. One disadvantage of ramp type machines, as known heretofore, has been a difficulty in removing bottles from the lower ramps; the lifting of lower locking plates or gates has also entailed the lifting of all gates thereabove. A less ap parent disadvantage has involved factors tending to increase costs of fabrication and reduce operational reliability. Mechanical locking devices for retained bottles are inherently interdependent and dimensional errors in various parts of previously known locking devices have been cumulative. Hence, dimensional tolerances of parts became more critical as the number of items from which a purchaser might choose was increased. Manufacturing costs were thus increased in that parts which A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a ramp type vending machine and wherein the weight of all locking members does not oppose withdrawal of a bottle from the lowest ramp.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a form of construction for a locking device of the type described and wherein dimensional errors of major components are not cumulative with respect to components functionally interdependent therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a ramp type vending machine, a bottle locking mechanism adapted for economical fabrication techniques.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a ramp type multiple choice vending machine for bottles and bottled products which is secure against theft and which is reliable in operation in that it tends to minirrnze the possibility of jambing.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing,

' wherein:

I FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the ramps and locking mechanism of the invention with the front cover plate shown in fragment.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view taken obversely to FIGURE 1 and showing the tumblers, links and locking bar .of the invention with parts of the locking bar shown in fragment and with features obscured by the locking bar shown with dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a front cover plate, slideway, and tumbler assembly of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of a telescoping link as defined herein. I

FIGURE 6 is a partially fragmentary perspective view of ramps, withdrawal ports and locking plates together with associated components of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a partially sectional rear elevational view of a partition release mechanism of the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken similarly to FIGURE 7 but showing displacement of parts thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a cabinet, doorway, and obstructed withdrawal ports of the invention.

might otherwise have been stamped had to be machined.

FIGURE 10 is a partially sectional rear elevational view of an optional wire member of the invention.

In the drawings, a plurality of rectangular ramps 10 are disposed in parallel and vertically spaced relationship to one another. The various ramps 10 are substantially identical in dimension and are peripherally supported by vertical frame members 11 interiorly secured within a refrigerated cabinet 12 (shown fragmcntarily in FIGURE 9). Each ramp It? is adapted to support a plurality of bottles 13, each bottle being positioned thereon with its principal axis parallel with ground level, and one end of each ramp is positioned at a level beneath the level of the opposite end so that all bottles positioned thereon are urged by gravity to roll toward the lower end of the ramp. The neck 14 of each bottle projects toward the forward wall 15 of the cabinet and extends beyond the forward edge of its ramp 16. A cover plate 16 is spaced from also provided in the cover plate 16 at each ramp. Each withdrawal port 18 communicates with a slot 37 and is coaxial with a bottle 13 at the limit of its downward travel on a ramp 10V 7 v Slideways 19, each having continuous grooves 2 and 21 in its upper and lower surfaces, are secured to the rearward surface of the cover plate 16 at the lower end of the ramps and extend horizontally thereon from a point beyond the lower end of each ramp to a point in vertical alignment with the principal axis of a bottle at the lower extreme of its travel on the ramp. Locking plates 22, having parallel upper and lower edges adapted to be respectively received within the grooves 29 and '21 in the lower surface of one slideway 19 and the upper surface of the nextslideway therebeneath, are provided with tapered upper and lower edges 23 and 24 on their outer ends and each locking plate is provided with a horizontal slot 25 intermediate its tapered edges. The tapered end of each locking plate 22 is vertically truncated, and the opposite end is provided with a rectangular recess 26 which. corresponds in height and alignment to a withdrawal port 18 of the cover plate 16. Each locking plate 22 is confined by the slideways 19 receiving its upper and lower edges to a course of horizontal displacement, and the position of an inner vertical edge 27 of the rectangular recess 26 is such that the edge is adjacent the neck 14 of the lowest bottle 13 on a ramp 10 when a locking plate 22 is at or near its inward limit of travel with respect to the center of the cabinet 12. Rectangular guide blocks 23 are secured to the rearward surface of the cover plate 16 within the outer end portions of the slots 25 of the locking plates 22, and springs 29, respectively positioned within the slots 25, are compressed between the inner edge of a slot and the inner edge of a guide block 28.

Between the tapered edges 23 and 24 of each pair of next adjacent locking plates 22 a substantially flat and wedge shaped tumbler 3G in pivotally connected at its convergent end to the rearward surface of the cover plate 16; the head 31 of a pivot pin 32, which serves as the axial support for such connection, is received in a counterbore opening in the tumbler and the pivot pin 32 confines the angular displacement of the tumbler 30 to a vertical plane. A boss 33 projects rearwardly of the rearward surface of each tumbler 3! near the outer edge thereof. A telescoping link 34 extends between each set of next adjacent tumblers 3t) and is pivotally connected thereto. Each telescoping link 34 is comprised of a relatively flat and elongate box member 35 and a tongue member 36 adapted to be slidably received within a longitudinal cavity 37 of the box member. One flattened side of the closed end 38 of each box member 35 is shouldered 39 and is provided with a circular opening 46 communicating the shouldered surface 39 with the other side; that end 38 is also arcuately formed on a radius from the center of the circular opening 46. The outwardly projecting end 41 edge. A solenoid 4?, operated by any suitable coin actuated electrical circuit C, is provided with a latch 50 corresponding to and coacting with the notch 48 on the lower end of the locking bar 46. A spring 51 is extended between the lower end of the locking bar 46 and the base of the cabinet 12.

A microswitch .(not shown) is mounted within the cabinet 12 and is positioned in the vertical path of the locking bar 46. By means well known in the art the of the tongue member 36 is enlarged to the transverse dimensions of the box member 35 and is likewise shouldered 42 and arcuately formed on a radius from a circular opening 43. The rearward surface of the outer corners of the tumblers 30 are recessed to receive the shouldered ends 38 and 41 of the respective telescoping links 35 and are provided with circular openings 44 corresponding to the circular openings 40 and 43 in ends of the links 34. Pivot pins 45 connect the ends of the links 34 to the tumblers 30. The several tumblers 3d and telescoping links 34 comprise an interconnected series of components adapted for discriminating coaction with the outward displacement of any one of the locking plates 22. A vertically disposed locking bar 46 is positioned immediately behind this series of components 36 and 34 and is provided with a plurality of vertical slots 47, each of limited and equal length, which receive the bosses 33 of the tumblers 30. The lower end of the locking bar 46 extends considerably beneath the lowest tumbler 30 and is provided with a notched recess 48 having a horizontal lower microswitch is wired into the coin actuated electrical circuit C and, upon contact with the locking bar 46, disrupts the flow of current through the solenoid 4h releasing the same and extending the latch 50.

A hanger strap 52 is vertically positioned within the cabinet 12 adjacent the rearward edges of the ramps 10 and is located in horizontal alignment with the junction line of the two lowest bottles 13 on the ramp. Hanger rods 53 are pivotally supported by the strap 52 at positions above and between the two lowest bottles 13 on each ramp It) and projects forwardly and horizontally from such pivotal connections to journaled connection with the cover plate 16. The upper edge of a rectangular partition 54- is secured to each hanger rod 53 and the lower edge of each partition projects downwardly into the space between the two lowest bottles 13. A beam member 55 is atfixed to the upper portion of the rearward surface of each locking plate 22 and projects forwardly and inwardly therefrom to a position above and inwardly of a hanger rod 53. An upwardly directed arcuate bend 56 is formed in each beam member 55 at a position thereon such that the archway is in vertical alignment with a hanger rod 53 when its locking plate is in its normally closed position, i.e. when the interior edge 27 of the rectangular recess 26 of the locking plate is adjacent the neck 14 of the lowest bottle 13 in a ramp 10. A finger 57 disposed perpendicularly to the partition 54 is secured to each hanger rod 53 at a position thereon adjacently beneath the arcuate bend 56 of the beam member 55 and one end of the finger is adapted to be received and accommodated within the arcuate bend when the partition is outwardly displaced about the pivotal mounting of the hanger rod. When the locking plate 22 is in its opened position, the arcuate bend 56 is not in vertical alignment with the hanger rod 53 and the finger 57, and the lower surface of the beam member 55 is in adjacence with the upper surface of the finger 57; hence, the finger 57 is limited'to a horizontal position and the partition 54 cannot be pivoted around the mounting of the hanger rod 53.

A dog 58 is pivotally connected to the lower surface of each ramp 10 at a position thereon in substantial vertical alignment with the hanger rods 53 and extends outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The upper edge of a vertical retaining wall 59 positioned and secured to the lower end of each ramp It is provided with a vertical recess 60 to receive and support the lower end of each dog 58. When a bottle 13 is in the lowest position on a ramp 10, the dog 58 is supported by the Wall of the bottle and the lower end of the dog is correspondingly positioned above the lower edge of the recess 60. It is to be understood that a plurality of dogs 58 so supported and constructed may be positioned within a single ramp to serve as withdrawal latches for bottles of various lengths.

An alternate embodiment of the dog 58 is shown in FIGURE 10. In this form of construction, a slot 61 is provided in each ramp iii and a central portion of a wire member 62, pivotally connected to the lower surface of the ramp 10 at a position above the slot 61, projects upwardly through the slot 61. The unpivoted end 63 of the wire member 62 projects upwardly through an opening in an extended lower end of the ramp it and is engaged by a helical spring 64 which is compressed between the projecting end 63 of the wire member 62 and upper surface of the ramp It The dog 58 or the wire member 62 or both may be used .to prevent return of a bottle 13 to its original position on a ramp after it has been partially Withdrawn.

A doorway 65 in substantial horizontal alignment with the cover plate 16 is provided in the forward Wall of the cabinet 12, and a suitable access door (not shown) preferably of transparent material may be hingedly con nected to the cabinet 12 in sealing relationship with the doorway 65. As is well known in the art, a coin slot may be positioned at any convenient location in the cabinet and may be made to communicate with a suitable coin sensing and receiving mechanism adapted for electrical connection with the solenoid.

In operation, the locking bar 46 is urged by the spring 51 to its lowest position where the notched-recess 48 receives the latch 50 of the solenoid 49. in this position of the locking bar 46 the bosses 33 of the tumblers 30 bear against the upper edges of the .slots 47 and each tumbler is confined to its lowest position where it bears upon a tapered edge 23 of a locking plate 22. Upon deposit of a coin the solenoid 49 is actuated and its latch 50 is disengaged and withheld fromthe notched recess 48. A purchaser then selects and withdraws a bottle 13 through one of the withdrawal ports 18. As the bottle 13 is withdrawn, its neck 14 serves as a cam against the vertical edge 27 of the rectangular recess 26 of a locking plate 22 and forces that looking plate away from the withdrawal port. The horizontal edges of the locking plate then respectively bear against the tumblers 30 above and below the locking plate and the telescoping link 34 between those tumblers is extended. All tumblers 30 above that locking plate are thus made to bear upon tapered edges 24 of locking plates 22 above the opened port 18 and all tumblers 30 below that opened port bear upon tapered edges 23 of locking plates therebelow. Bosses 33 on tumblers 30 above the opened port 18 raise the locking bar and cause its upper end to contact a microswitch which, as described, disrupts the circuit of the solenoid 49 and causes the latch 59 to be released. After the bottle 13 is partially withdrawn, the dog 58 (or wire member 62) obstructs its return to the ramp 10. While the locking plate 22 is positioned away from the withdrawal port, the beam member 55 prevents displacement of the partition 54 and the next lowest bottle on the ramp 10 is held in its position. Once the bottle 13 has been completely removed, the spring 29 forces the locking plate 22 back toward the port 18 and the upper tumblers are returned to their lower positions by the locking bar 46.

The invention is not limited to the construction herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claim-s.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a vending machine, a bottle locking mechanism comprising: -a vertical cover plate having a plurality of withdrawal ports, a plurality of adjacent locking plates slidably mounted on said cover plate and normally partially obstructing said withdrawal ports, tapered edges positioned exteriorly of said ports on said locking plates, a plurality of wedge shaped tumblers respectively pivotally mounted on said cover plate between said tapered edges of next adjacecnt locking plates, telescoping links respectively extending between and pivotally connected to said next adjacent tumblers, bosses respectively affixed to corresponding side surfaces of said tumblers, a locking bar slidably supported within said vending machine, said locking bar having a plurality of slots positioned to respectively receive said bosses, meansholding said locking bar in a position where said slots confine said bosses, and coin operated means releasing said locking bar from said means holding the same. 7

2. The invention as define/.1 in claim 1 and including: ramps respectively terminating opposite said withdrawal ports, means parallel with said cover plate supporting said ramps one above another a pivoted mounting above each of said ramps, a partition depending from each said pivoted mounting, a finger on said pivotal mounting, a beam member on said locking plate in blocking relationship with respect to displacement of said finger, and an arcuate bend in said beam member at a position thereon in alignment with said finger when the adjacent locking plate of said locking plates is in its normal position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including: ramps respectively terminating opposite said withdrawal ports, means supporting said ramps parallel with said cover plates, a pivoted mounting above each said ramp, means horizontally supporting said pivoted mountings, a dog extending from each said pivotal mounting above each ramp to a rest position on said ramp with said rest position being beneath a line of tangency from said pivotal mounting to the uppermost side of a bottle in its lowest position on said ramp.

4. A bottle vending machine comprising: a cabinet, in clined ramps mounted within said cabinet and arranged one above another, corresponding sides of said ramps being in vertical alignment, a vertical cover plate adjacent the lower ends of said ramps andadjacent said corresponding sides of said ramps, slots in said cover plate adapted to receive necks of bottles on said ramps, ports communicating with said slots in said cover plate, adjacent locking plates slid-ably mounted on said cover plate and normally partially obstructing said ports, a tapered end portion on each locking plate positioned thereon exteriorly of said ports, tumblers respectively pivotally mounted on said cover plate between tapered end portions of next adjacent locking plates, extensible links pivotally connected at their opposite ends to next adjacent turnblers, bosses respectively secured to corresponding side surfaces on said tumblers, a locking bar mounted for vertical sliding movement within said cabinet and having a plurality of slots respectively adapted to receive said bosses, means holding said locking bar in a restricting position with respect to said bosses, and coin actuated means releasing said bar from its restricted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,727,654 Childers et a1 Dec. 20, 1955 

